Next week, choreographer and dancer Dak Mashava, West End cast member of ‘Cabaret’, will make his choreographic debut at Serendipity UK’s Let’s Dance International Frontiers (LDIF26).
We caught up with Dak to find out more.
Q: Dak – tell us about the piece you’re presenting at LDIF26 – ‘I See You, You See Me’ – what inspired you to make the piece and what do you think LDIF26 audiences will particularly enjoy about it?
A: The piece that I’m presenting is a duet that navigates the nuances and complexities of a queer relationship. It draws from my lived experience as a QPOC and it’s those lived experiences that inspired me to make the piece. I also personally feel that there are still a lot of untold stories especially through the medium of dance that share the black and queer experience. Whilst it’s loosely based on a narrative it does have some seemingly abstract moments. At its core, It is a conversation between two bodies in space working to reach an understanding of each other as well as oneself. I think the audience will enjoy the moments of vulnerability, quality of movement and connection between the two dance artists. The piece is an ode to being black and queer.
Q: What music will you be using?
A: The music I’ll be using comes from a specifically curated playlist of certain music artists that caught my ear. All the artists are black musicians and poets. Their music stirred something in me during the early stages of listening and selecting. This is both emotionally and physically whilst still finding some kind of connection/ relation to the narrative and themes of the piece. There’s elements of jazz, ambient sounds as well as techno beats and spoken word with some prominent instruments such as saxophones, piano, clarinet, free vocals as well as spoken word from two different poets. My fellow collaborator (@irl_Angel aka Danni P) is an amazing DJ with a great ear who also gave invaluable advice and help in putting the soundtrack together to give you the audio journey that you will embark on when you watch the piece
Q: How did you find your two dancers: Conn Williams and Theo Canham-Spence?
A: I’ve known both dancers for quite some time, both in different strands which I connected eventually. It started last year when I was beginning my R&D process after I had been awarded a DYCP. The idea was still a baby but I knew the type of dance artists I wanted from the get go which completely eliminated the idea of holding an audition and as a result of that I contacted them directly on separate occasions. At the core I wanted QPOC dance artists as I believe that they would embody the idea and story that I am trying to tell, especially also having had their own lived experiences as QPOC. Theo and I worked alongside in nightlife doing gogo gigs at queer parties and also happened to have trained at Laban. Conn I knew from LCDS (London Contemporary Dance School) and they started just as I left but our degrees of separation were very short as we have a lot of mutual connections and I have seen them grow artistically in their own journey from a distance. What I’ve loved about working with both of them is how beautifully they come together despite their different qualities as movers. A very rewarding process with a strong foundation of trust.
Q: What does it mean to you to have your work performed at LDIF26?
A: Honestly it means the world. Without trying to sound cliché. It’s a full circle moment for me for a number of reasons. One of them being that I have finally fulfilled my own promise of one day making some art to share with others and finally utilise as much knowledge and experience that I’ve acquired on my own journey as a dance artist. Hopefully this paves the way for more creation in the near future, I still have a lot to say!
Q: Congratulations on becoming Associate Artist at Curve Leicester – that’s very exciting! What does the position entail and what does it mean to you, having grown up in Leicester?
A: Thank you! The timing of it all has rather been ‘serendipitous’ Ha! This particular opportunity has come at the right time where I’m still emerging and developing my craft as a choreographer/director. The position of Curve Resident Artist basically helps with my professional development through mentoring, being a guest behind the scenes of curve productions, having space to practice and develop my own practice as well giving back to the community by teaching and sharing my practice whenever I can. It really means a lot having come from Leicester as it means I can now also be a role model to younger hopefuls and share what I know in order to help their development. Full circle.
Book tickets here: https://www.serendipity-uk.com/whats-on/lets-dance-international-frontiers/